Tag Archives: cozymystery

ELIZABETH Beckingridge had seen it before. As a former wild child herself she was familiar with the concept. It came from too much money and privilege with little sense of the real world. This was different though. Her nephew George was something different.

“He’s just spoiled,” she told her brother ERNEST. Ernest was sweet natured, kind and completely incapable of delivering the discipline. His wife, Alice, was though.

When Alice died this could no longer be denied.

She walked a long the Main Street of the beautiful town of Filton, heading towards the Beckingridge Manor with a COLDFORD CITY TRAVEL MUG in hand filled with black coffee.

“Elizabeth!” A familiar voice called her name, using the full name knowing her well enough to know she hated the shortened versions of Liz or Lizzie.

It was Mrs Peterson. The manor house’s closest neighbour. Her twin boys Ollie and Oz were playmates of George’s.

“I never left,” replied Elizabeth. “After Alice’s funeral I decided to stay on and help Ernest out. I didn’t see you at the funeral, she added.”

Mrs Peterson pouted. “Alice was a dear friend of mine but I didn’t think that it was very appropriate given everything that happened. I heard that there was a bit of a fuss, picketers still calling her a child murderer.”

Elizabeth sighed. She wasn’t getting away without a satisfactory explanation to the nosy neighbour.

“We’re really just trying to focus on what’s ahead of us and try and get back to normality. You should send the twins over. I’m sure George would love to see them. He tells me they avoid him at school.”

Mrs Peterson’s face screwed as though she sucked on a lemon. “I’d rather the boys didn’t come over and it was me who told them to not speak to him. They don’t make great friends and there is always trouble.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Just say what you mean. You don’t want to be associated with a child killer. An accusation that was acquitted I might add and you don’t want your precious twins associating with my nephew because the last time they did there was a torn designer shirt, a broken nose and a beheaded dog to contend with.”

Mrs Peterson pouted. “Then you can see my point?”

Elizabeth sighed. “We are trying to do what we can to calm him down. These days he spends most of his time locked in the music room.”

Mrs Peterson seemed conflicted about something. “I have a music tutor I use for the boys. Oz is positively a prodigy on the cello. Perhaps some music lessons could give him something positive to focus on.”

“Short of having him committed you mean,” Elizabeth said in return but it was more of a mumble to herself.

“Mr BAINES is his name. You will find his flier on the town notice board. I must dash but do tell Ernest I send my best.”

George did enjoy tinkering with the piano. Perhaps it would give him some focus. With all the other kids shunning him it would help for him to have something to fill his day. Elizabeth wondered if this music teacher had what it took to keep George Beckingridge as a pupil.

When Elizabeth’s young nephew starts asking of the murder his mother was acquitted from she feels it’s time to find the disturbed little boy something to focus on. Music lessons might be key.

Elizabeth is a real force to be reckoned with. Some say she should have been the one to lead the BECKINGRIDGE EMPIRE but as she would quite happily state, she wants nothing to do with the running the family business. Her only interest in BECKINGRIDGE TOWER lies with her own investments, her family name and the support of her brother ERNEST.

Ernest Beckingridge: CEO of Beckingridge Financial Empire

A former wild child Elizabeth opts for the quiet life mostly but when she does appear in public she is guaranteed give the press reason to talk about her. She is a snappy dresser, bold conversationalist and you will find yourself either loving or hating her. She doesn’t care which.

The main entrance to Beckingridge Tower. Statue of founder Jeffrey Beckingridge AKA Gramps.

Although she is impatient and challenging she is also warm hearted. When things are getting out of hand at the Beckingridge Manor it is she who still stands in protection of the family. As her nephew, George, begins to get out of control it is she who calls upon the music teacher, VINCENT BAINES, to try and give him something to focus on.

George learns piano from music tutor, Vincent Baines.

A large presence in the Shady City like Beck Tower needs a strong leader to steer it through dangerous waters. They call the financial industry in Coldford the Shark Tank and even although Elizabeth has sharper teeth than most it would take a tragedy to find her at the helm.

Elizabeth seeks a tutor in the hopes music lessons will give her nephew something positive to focus on.

Novelist, Elizabeth Beckingridge has her hands full helping her brother cope with the children after the loss of his wife. Calling on music tutor, Vincent Baines, to help only leads to more trouble.

Coming 2020. The Beckingridge fortune is paying for a comfortable stay in Coldford City’s best rehabilitation facility. They had no choice, teaching their son and heir is what put him there in the first place.

David Finn was once described as a Coldford’s most promising young talent. An addiction and a self destructive nature caused a very public fall. In order to reach those lofty heights again he’ll have to address that bothersome fly with the help of coy farm girl, Julia Harvester. His latest MUSE.

Kim is the daughter of famous boxer SONNY ADAMS better known as the BOURNTON BLIZZARD. Born in the northern town of BOURNTON, Kim was raised in the Mid East area of Cardyne but she never lost that northern spirit. Her father taught her strength, resilience and fair play for the BLIZZARD was nothing if not an ethical boxer.

Her father’s career was ended after a match up with SIMON PENN which led to disaster in the ring but rather than vengeance driving what she does she seeks to do what her father started and have the triplets against the ropes.

Her work is unique in the sense that she is out with the jurisdiction of the LAW MAKERS of the Shady City. This gives her a chance to see things from an outside perspective as our reporter, SAM, continues on his story.

Although she hasn’t appeared in KNOCK KNOCK yet she is set to make an impact in volume 2 because her agency have been building their case and their sights are set on the BOSS LADY of the club.

Complete season 1 of the Knock Knock graphic novel series is free to read HERE.

“You expect me to believe that your husband was a prolific paedophile and you knew nothing about it?”

OLIVIA PLATT sobbed. If she had known about it she would have done something sooner.

Margaret was the name of the LAW MAKERS clerk. She had a silver pin with the three pillared building surrounded by the reef that was the symbol of the Law Makers on the lapel of her black blazer. There were no jewels on her long neck, no diamond studs in her ears. She didn’t have any glitter about her except that pin.

“I didn’t,” cried Olivia. “I swear I didn’t.”

Click. Click. Click. Margaret typed away on her computer. Olivia could only see the back of the monitor. Margaret gave a severe look at her screen. Then she reached out with skeletal thin fingers, clasped the monitor and turned it further towards her.

“Those poor little girls,” Olivia continued. She tried to show she wasn’t a bad person. “I just want to do what I can to help them,” she stated.

Margaret rested her rake like hands away from the keys.

“Easing a guilty conscience? Did you take part in your husbands tastes?”

Olivia shrieked. “Of course not! I’d never have hurt those girls.”

“No? But you would let your husband though,” sneered Margaret.

She was just a clerk tasked with getting the details from Olivia. She was not an investigator. Still Olivia felt the need to explain herself.

“If I had known what was going on I would have said something. I would have gone to the police.”

“Those girls – already troubled – were in your care as a City Social Worker and you failed them.”

Olivia sniffed. She had come to the COURT OFFICES to ease her conscience she supposed. She wanted to do what she could to make up for what had gone on under her nose.

Margaret narrowed her gaze. “At this stage we are only interested in one girl. Does the name TABITHA mean anything to you? Does it ring any bells?”

“Yes,” Olivia answered.

“But of course you would remember that girl. You filed a State Support Claim on her behalf. In exchange for your help she ran away with your husband.”

Margaret’s lips tightened into a venomous spout of disgust. “Yes and now we know why, isn’t that right?”

“I didn’t know,” Olivia said again in protest.

Margaret returned to the computer. “I’m booking you an interview with one of our Child Services Committee officers,” she said tap tap tapping on the keys. “We’re only interested in one girl. We need to know everything you do about Tabitha.”

Dennis isn’t just dirty. He’s downright filthy but that’s only part of the story. Before the LAW MAKERS make their final judgement check out Volume 1 and examine the evidence.

Volume 1 of the hit graphic novel series is free to read HERE on Vivika Widow Online or you can download for kindle by clicking HERE.

It takes a little bit of extra pizazz to work the KNOCK KNOCK club and to be the manager you got to really have your wits about you. Here’s what our manager, DENNIS brings to the table:

GREET THE CUSTOMERS

There are a lot of regular faces returning to the SHANTIES for the best night in town but as the manger you really need to keep a keen eye out for strangers. The club is invitation only (by orders of the BOSS LADY). Given the nature of the joint there can be a lot of creeps hanging around. Your job as manager is to weed out the miscreants and send them packing. Except if one of those strange faces happens to be a reporter for the COLDFORD DAILY, the biggest publication in the city. Then he goes right on in.

KEEP THE BOOZE FLOWING

The KNOCK KNOCK girls are skilled at flirting with the customers and making them feel special. A horny man will part with cash quicker than his trousers if he thinks he’s getting something out of it. He’s not. Your job as manager is to keep those drinks flowing so the customers are sent home with a smile on their face one way or another.

CHEER THE ENTERTAINMENT

No one loves the BOSS LADY more than the BOSS LADY herself so when she takes to the stage it is always on the HEADLINING spot. As manager you have to make sure the crowds are wild and having a great time. It helps to throw in a little whoop and cheer yourself just to get the ball rolling on slow nights.

PREPARE THE GIRLS

Choosing the girls sounds like a dream job for any hot blooded man but there’s more to our KNOCK KNOCK lovelies than meets the eye. These kittens have got to have claws. There is no use bringing in a new flirty waitress only to have her pack it in a week later. That’s bad for business and its bad for morale. Get those girls prepared, pretty and ready to lash out because in a place like the KNOCK KNOCK club those kittens got to have claws. The SHANTIES are no place for damsels in distress.

WISH YOU HAD NEVER COME

Alright so this one is specific for Dennis. We’re pretty sure anyone would just love to manage the club but when you have had to leave your family life behind and submit all power you once had it can feel more like a life sentence. Should have kept your hands to yourself then Dennis, you dirty fiend.

Do you have what it takes to manage a place like the KNOCK KNOCK club? Have we made it seem like an appealing place for a night out?

After it all you can just sit back, relax and consider a job well done.

Volume 1 of the hit graphic novel series is free to read HERE on Vivika Widow Online or you can download for kindle by clicking HERE.

What we have is a society that forces offenders beneath the surface. It is now time to dig them out by the roots and destroy the weeds so that a better society can grow over the top.

No one in this city will take my law into their own hands. No one will grant themselves the power over life and death. It is for the LAW MAKERS of this city to stem the flow of corruption and hold those who break the rules accountable, no one else.

We will shut down corporations and lay waste to lawless areas for that is what it means to be a LAW MAKER.

As the hammer of justice crashes down its thunder will resonate across the entire reach of the Shady City. Many will fear the vibrations but if fear is what it takes then fear it shall be. Where fear fails there is force. They will be pushed back into the holes in which they dwell and fire will be set to the cesspits of villainy.

The mayor of the city is still missing. The hot seat is still open but make no mistake, my law is still my law and no one is above it.

It’s the part of the Shady City where the law is upheld. In a city torn apart by corruption and a greed for power a need for order is more important than ever. It takes a very special kind of PERSON to hold the seat of judgement because you will be up against murderers, thieves, kidnappers and let’s face it some of the most ruthless villains ever to ply their trade.

The Court Houses are feared in the SHADY CITY. With a lot of evil doings allowed to slide, especially when you have the privilege of a powerful family name (OWEN perhaps?), it takes some extreme crimes to have the High Court involved and when the JUDGE DOYLE’s Bailiffs come hunting you you can rest assured JUSTICE will be served.

Working closely with COLDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT it seems an uphill struggle to rid the city of wrong doers, especially when most times its hard to tell who the real evil is. But rest assured, those who don’t obey the JUDGE’s laws will have their day in court.

A beautiful, expansive piece of land set beyond the north of the city before reaching the northern town of BOURNTON. Leaving the hustle and bustle of Coldford behind the Harvester farm seems like a world away.

Owned by the HARVESTER family for a number of generations, the most recent being Jacob Harvester and his daughter and only child JULIA.

Julia Harvester is a nice girl.

A meat and dairy farm the Harvester brand brings some of the finest produce to the Shady City and beyond. When Jacob fell ill his doctor, WINSLOW, bought over the farm in order to help out and to bring the brand into a modern world before it was lost completely to a day and age long past.

The eminent Dr Winslow and Harvester farm hand Glenn.

Hard work and dedication is given completely by the farm hands. They are all like family to Julia, especially GLENN and Curtis her two main hands who keep the farm functioning.

Hard working and dedicated. The farm hands are like family.

Whilst you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and become lost in the day dream inducing old fashioned architecture of the farm house, like most places in the Shady City there is a dark cloud hovering over the land and it’s not just bringing gloomy weather. Julia is losing control over her family legacy little by little to the domineering doctor.

When Julia meets an artist, DAVID FINN, he manages to see past her naïve, pretty farm girl exterior to a furious fire that burns beneath. The inspiration falls both ways as the daring artist gives her a new lease of life. Time to make some changes around Harvester farm and desperate times call for desperate measures.